John Kerry 'uptight' about U.S. exceptionalism

'Not because we're not, but because it's kind of in-your-face'

Published: 07/15/2014 at 10:34 AM

(WEEKLY STANDARD) As John Kerry travels from country to country on various diplomatic missions as secretary of state (almost half a million miles so far), he often addresses the staff and their families at the U.S. embassies in the countries he visits.

Remarks at these informal gatherings are often more casual than the usual speeches or press appearances, and Kerry often jokes with the staff and recognizes employees of long standing with the State Department.

Monday, Kerry had one such opportunity in Vienna, Austria, the last stop on his most recent trip, and towards the end of his talk he recalled his two Yale commencement speeches, forty-eight years apart, where he discussed “sort of the world we’re in” and America’s place in it: